Canopy support



Jan' 9, 1945- v. P. NELSON CANOPY SUPPORT `Filed Sepb. 16, 1943 Patented Jan. 9, 1945 UNITED ,STAT-ES PATENT yOFFICE. 2.367,043

f oANoPY SUPPORT Y T Virg'inia'l. Nelson, Newr-vYork, N. Y. Applicationseptember 16, 1943, serial No. 502,633

(o1. 13s-a1) 8- Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fastening means or attaching brackets. for canopy supports and canopies, for use. in attaching: canopy suplJOrts and canopies to bed or cot frames. More particularly the inventionrelates tofastening meansfor brackets for attachingthe lower ends or legs of such supports tothe side orA side and end rails of bed or cotY frames, andfwhichl also serve as means to enable a mosquito net or other type of canopy to-be` fastened in position.

An object of the invention is t'oprovidev a simv`v ple, eiective and inexpensive construction of l fasteningmeans or-bracketfor the purposes set forth which may be readily and'conveniently v applied to and removed from a bed or cot frame, and whichjwhen in use," will rmly and securely hold the canopy support in position and against casual displacements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a'bracket of. this character which embodies means to detachably 'interlockwith the 'canopy support to hold the same firmly in position and against casual displacement.

Still another object of the invention isA to prov vide a bracket of this character which embodies asocket or holder to receiveA the lower end'or leg of a canopy support and having means to interlock therewith, and which may be in the form ci a clip to engage a cot or bed' rail or be otherwise.

suitably constructed to be fastened thereto. A

Stillanother object ofthe invention is to provide a bracketof this character which will allow. the lowerend or leg of the canopy support which is applied thereto to depend therefrom .to receive a loop or other engaging element on thek canopy -wherebythe canopy may be. secured in position.

Still' another object of the invention is to provide Vbrackets which may be quickly applied for use and Vwith which the ylegs of the canopy supports' held in position by brackets of .one form embody-- ingl the invention, I

'Figure 2 is a cross sectionfthrough one: of the side rails of the bed or cot frame, showing a. portion oi a canopy support .andi aportionpof a canopy attached to the rail vby one of Athe brackets.

`the vleg `of the support engaged and intel-locked Figure Sis a perspective View of one of the brackets.

Figurel 4 is a View in elevation looking toward aside rail and.` one of the'brackets and showing the leg of aV support being inserted down into a bracket for engagement therewith.

Figure 5fis a sectionl on theline 5 5 of Figure 4. y

Figure 6 is a` View similar to Figure 5 showing thefle'gof the support fastened in position.

Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure -showing amodied form of bracket and the leg of a support being applied thereto for engagement therewith. l

Figure 8 is a View similar to `Figure-'7 showing of Figure 12.

Figures 14 and 15 are views similar to Figures 5 vand-6 of a structure in which the keeper socket isformed in an end rail and a fastener is mounted on the rail fory securing the leg of the support in position. f

Figure .1.6 is aperspective vView ofthe fastener shown in Figures 14 and 15..r

Figure lis a sectional view-showing still ane other modified form of bracket of a type adapted for engagement with an end rail.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1- to 6, inclusive, of the drawing., l designates the frame of a cot or other bedstead including the side rail 2 and end rails 2'; 3, a plurality of canopy supports, and 4, a canopy of suitable 'type and construction mounted on the supportsso as to overlie and enclose. the frame, and which may be in practice a mosquito netting or other kind of canopy. This canopy is preferably provided with holding loopslab near its edges.

Any number of the supports 3 may be used and spaced a .desireddistance apart and they may be of collapsible or non-collapsible type and made Y of rust-proof metal or other material. Each support,` as shown, is of inverted U-form and has free ends or leg portions 5 suitably spaced for attachment'to the opposite side rails' orto the ends of the end rails of the cot or bed frame. The canopy 4 may, if desired, be provided with transverse strengthening bands or tapes 6 at the points where it rests on or engages the supports.

Fastening means comprising a fastening member or keeper bracket 'I is employed to connect the leg portion of each support with a bed rail 2 or 2' and disposing such ,portion of the sup- :port for attaching an adjacent portion of the canopy thereto. This fastening member or keeper bracket may be formed of a plurality of pieces of metal or material of the same or different kinds or formed as a unitary structure of" metal 0r other suitable material or materials.

In the construction shown in Figures l to 6, in-

These loops or fastening elements may be arranged to allow them to be readily engaged from inside or outside the canopy to adapt the canopy t0 be Opened or closed at either side to permit a person to readily enter or leave the canopied bed or to allow access by a, nurse or attendant to a sick or wounded person occupying the bed.

When the leg of the support is applied to the bracket in the manner above described it will be securely held in position in the slot I2 and by the tongue II against lateral displacement and it will be locked by the tongue against up- ,I ward or downward displacement. The construcand quick application of the leg to the bracket elusive, a unitary form c-f keeper bracket is shown which comprises a body portion or keeper socket formed of an outer or front wall 8 and a pair of similar side walls 9, the latter being providedwith laterally extending attaching iianges or wings I0. The socket so formed is open at top and bottom and at its inner or back portion between the flanges IS. The walls il and flanges I0 are straight and vertical, but the wall 8 slopes or inclines downwardly and inwardly and the walls 9 are triangularly shaped to form therewith a keeper socket of generally triangular form and which is of maximum area at its top and minimum area at its bottom. At its top this socket is provided with a spring holding or locking tongue II which is integral at one end with the wall 8 and free from connection with the walls 9 and has its free end projecting toward and terminating adjacent to but in advance of the open rear Side of the socket. By the construction described the open bottom of the socket is in the form of a restricted slot I2.

Brackets of the type described are adapted to be applied to the side or side and end rails of the cot or bed frame to secure the supports 3 in position for attachment of the canopy 4. As shown, the wings or flanges Iil are designated to bear upon the outer sides of the side rails or ends of the end rails and are perforated for passage of suitable fasteners I3 to secure them in position with the open rear side of each socket facing the surface of the rail to which it is attached. When so applied a clearance space is left between such surface of the rail and the free end of the tongue suflicient to allow of the leg portion 5 of a Support 3 being inserted downwardly into and through the socket. The brackets are arranged in alined pairs at opposite sides of the bedstead so that each pair will be disposed to receive the legs 5 of a support 3 arranged transversely in canopy supporting position. Each leg 5 has formed therein a keeper slot I4 to receive the free end of the tongue I I of the bracket in which it is inserted. As the leg 5 is being slipped down into the socket, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the spring 5, as shown in Figure 5, will yield to allow it to pass until the slot I4 comes into registry with the tongue, when the tongue will spring into engagement with the slot, as shown in Figure 6, to lock the leg in place. The

slot I4 is arranged at such a distance above the' end of the leg that when the leg is thus fastened in place, a portion thereof will be received in the slot I2 and will depend to a certain extent and be exposed below the bottom of the socket to form a fastening' member with which a loop or other fastening element on the adjacent portion of the canopy may be engaged to hold the canopy fastened down, as will be readily understood.

the tongue will yield downwardly to permit ready and will yield upward to :permit removal of the leg from the bracket when it is desired to remove it.

It` will |be evident also that the described construction of the supports and brackets adapts them to be readily and economically manufactured and the brackets applied for service in a rapid manner and without the use of special tools.

In Figures '7, 8 and 9 a modified form of bracket 'Ia is shown in which the construction of the keeper part of the bracket is the same as in the bracket shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive. In this modiiied construction of bracket la, however, the flanges I0 are omitted and in their place the keeper socket is provided with top and bottom wall extensions I5 and I6 forming spring jaws to engage the upper and lower surface of a side or yend rail to hold the bracket in position.

To retain the bnacket against outward displacement either of the jaws, or both of them if desired, may be provided with spring teeth or claws I'I to Iolite into the rail and prevent the bracket from slipping outward under al1 normal forces tending to displace it. The inner or free end of the upper jaw may be formed with a rolled portion I8 to stifen the jaw and to avoid the presentation of a raw edge liable to cause injury to the bedding or canopy. This rolled portion is adapted to serve also as a finger grip for use in manipulating the upper jaw to allow the bracket to be more readily and conveniently applied and removed. If desired the lower jaw, particularly if formed with biting teeth or claws, may also. be formed with such a rolled stifening portion and nger grip. This construction of bracket pro-vides a bracket which may be ap'- plied and secured in position without the use of the screws I3' or other auxiliary fastenings.

In Figures l0 to 13, inclusive, another modied form of bracket 'I6 is shown which is generally similar in construction to the bracket la 4but in which the teeth or claws II on the jaws I5 and I6 are omitted and the jaws are provided with threaded openings for the passage of clamping screws I9 whereby the bracket may be clamped to the rail 2 or 2'. In this construction a rolled edge I8 is shown as being lprovided on each jaw.

Figures 14 and l5 and I6 show a construction adapted for use in connection with an end rail 2 and in which a keeper is formed by a slot 28 extending throughthe rail 2 adjacent its end. This slot is adapted to receive the leg 5 of the support 3 and to permit the end of the leg to depend below the rail. The bracket Ic is here in the form of a fastener comprising a spring metal strip having a body portion 2I terminating at its outer end in a downwardly bent portion 22 and at its. inner end in a tongue II to engage the slot. I4 in the leg 5. The body portion of the fastener preferably fits or is countersunk in a recess in the upper tface of the rail, while its portion 22 is arranged to bear against the end face of the rail, and said portions :are secu'red kto the rail by suitable fastenings 23. The ,operation of applying the leg of the fastener to and removing it from the rail will be readily understood by reference to Figures 14 and 15. If desired the leg 5 may be formed with a tongue 24 normally lying in its plane and adapted to be bent against the inner wall of the slot by pressure of the tongue II when the leg is applied to assist in stably supporting the leg in the keeper slot 20.

Figure 17 shows still another form of bracket Id embodying my invention which is similar to that shown in Figures '7 to, 9 inclusive, in which the keeper portion of the bracket is provided with top and bottomv jaws I5 and I6. This bracket I'Iy however, is also provided with side jaws 25 (one of which is shown) ywhich form with the jaws I5 and I6` a split box-like socket adapted to .be slipped onto the end of the end rail 2' to hold the bracket in position thereon. The bracket I'I may be provided with holding teeth I1, .clamping screws I9 or other means, 'if required, to adapt it to be held rmly in posi- Vtion on the rail.

As stated, the canopy when applied will be held in place by the supports 3 and may be secured at the lower edges of its sides and endsl by loops or other means to the depending ends of the legs of the supports. By this means it will be held closely to the bedding so as to prevent the entrance of insects, while at the same time allowing a side portion of the canopy to be lreleased to permit entrance and exit of aperson to or from a bed or access to a sick or injured person lying on the bed. It will be noted thatin all forms of the invention the constructionis such as `to allow the supports to be applied and removed ina simple and convenient manner and without loss of time and without the use of any special tool or tools.

It is to be understood, of course, that while the fastener or bracket constructions shown herein for purposes of exemplication are preferred, such changes in the form, construction,

socket facing the railand closed thereby to re ceive and hold a leg of said member and a. tongue carried .by the bracket and interlocking with the slot in the leg. 2. In a canopy support for attachment to the rails of a, bed device, a canopy having lower edge portions provided with loops, canopy supporting members having leg portions each having a slot therein, and brackets for attaching the same to said rails, each bracket having means of attachment to one of said rails and having a socket facing the rail and alined thereby to receive a leg of one of said members and permit a portion thereof to depend 'below the socket, and a tongue to interlock with the slot in the leg, said depending` ,portion of the leg being engageable by one of said loops.

3. Ina canopy support, a canopy supporting member having a leg portion provided with a slot, and a bracket for attaching the same to the rail of a bed device and having means to engage the raill andhaving a tongue to engage the slot in the leg.

4. In a canopy support, a canopy supporting member having leg portions, each provided with an aperture, and brackets for attaching same to the rails of a bed device, each bracket comprising a body portion forming a socket to receive a leg of the member and a tongue carried vby said bracket to engage the aperture onthe leg.

5. In a canopy support, canopy supporting members having leg portions respectively provided with retaining slots, fasteners for attaching the legs to rails of a bed device, each fastener comprising a slotted keeper opening against and secured toone of said rails, and a tongue on the keeper engaging the slot in one of said legs.

6. In a canopy support, canopy supporting means having leg portions respectively provided with retaining slots, and fasteners for attaching the legs to rails of a bed device, each fastener comprising a slottedkeeper opening against and secured to one of said rails, and a spring tongue on the keeper engaging the slot in one of said legs.

7. In a canopy support, a canopy supporting member having leg portions each provided with a slot and a spring tongue normally lying in the plane of the slot, and fasteners for attaching the legs to rails of a bed device, each fastener comprising a slotted keeper opening against and secured to one of said rails, and a spring tongue on the keeper engaging one of said slots and the tongue 0f the associated leg and displacing the latter named tongue from the plane of the slot and into engagement with a surface of the associated rail.

8. In a canopy support, canopy supporting means having leg portions provided respectively with slots and brackets for attaching the same to side rails of a bed frame, each bracket comprising a body portion having means to engage one of said rails and having a socket open towards the rail and closed thereby to receive one of said legs,

'said socket being of greater width at its top than at its bottom and being formed at its bottom with a slot yto receive and allow a portion of the leg to depend below the socket, and retaining means on said-bracket engaging the slot in the associated leg.

VIRGINIA P. NELSON. 

